Coming of Age

Luis ages in physical years but also comes to age emotionally over the course of the story. As the book opens, he is a nine-year-old boy, facing the move back to Mexico with his mother upon the breakup of his parents. Luis says that he goes wherever he's told, and that it makes no difference. Over the coming years, he will lament his lack of control over anything, including his own life. The realization that he has control comes suddenly, when a walkout he's staged is canceled for an assembly. He admits that his walkout doesn't happen, but notes that he assembly happens because of his actions.

The other main point of age and maturity comes through encounters with other gang members. Early on, Luis says that he finds he has to follow his fellow gang members, and to back them regardless of their actions. This...